Van Nuys FlyAway will host dance, music performance this weekend

VAN NUYS - There is a rhythm to the way people travel in and out of the Van Nuys FlyAway bus terminal.

Park. Wait. Embark. Ride off to LAX. Return. Kiss. Hug. Ride home.

Borrowing from that rhythm, the dancers and musicians with String Theory Productions will harness the terminal's light and space as well as the motion of travel for a harmonious performance this weekend at the FlyAway, which, by the way, will be turned into a harp.

Yes, a harp.

Twenty four, 100-foot-long strings will extend from the top of the parking structure to the balcony adjacent to the station's offices. Musicians will stroke and pluck the strings using special gloves, as the dancers move and sway throughout the terminal, amongst the travelers.

The natural sunlight that streams through the bus station's windows will provide the mood in the beginning of the performance, as do prerecorded sounds of the terminal.

"Our projects are always site specific and this is taking it to another level," said dancer and choreographer Holly Rothschild, who co-founded String Theory with her husband, Luke.

"This is a genre bending, multi-platform, immersive experience," she said. "This is a beautiful place where we can play with light and sound."

Luke Rothschild, a composer, musician and instrument designer, created the giant harp which is a signature piece in all of String Theory's performances.

Luke Rothschild called the FlyAway terminal a modern building that is functional, but aesthetically pleasing too.

Cellist and composer Joseph Harvey also will perform new material.

"The music will be contemporary rock with a hint of classical influences," Luke Rothschild said. "It's really pretty dynamic."

String Theory has performed across the nation and abroad since it formed in 2002.

This year marks the second season for dance and music performances at the LAX FlyAway as part of a collaboration between Los Angeles World Airports and the city's Department of Cultural Affairs.

String Theory's performance on Saturday and Sunday is the second, weekend dance and music event at the FlyAway. The first performance was held earlier this month by the Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre.

On Oct. 13 and 14, Sarah Elgart will perform "FlyAway Home," which also incorporates the terminal's space and architecture as well as large-scale video projections.

"The goal of the Performance Arts Program is to enhance the experience of travelers, visitors, and staff of the FlyAway by creating pedestrian-friendly amenities, vibrant public spaces, and accentuating the overall mission of the LAX FlyAway through the performing arts," LAWA said in a statement.

String Theory's performance will be held start at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the FlyAway bus terminal, 7610 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys.

No tickets or reservations required - the dancers and musicians will perform as travelers arrive and depart on the buses. Parking is $4 in the parking structure or free along Woodley Avenue.